Westmorland and Furness Council will mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) by lighting up buildings and flying the HMD flag.
On Monday (27 January), Barrow and Kendal Town Halls will be illuminated in purple, while the HMD flag will fly at half-mast from the town hall building in Penrith in tribute to those affected by genocide.
Held annually on 27 January, HMD marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is an international day where we remember the millions of people who have been murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution and in more recent genocides. It is an occasion for people to come together to learn, remember and reflect.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia.
Each year, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) selects a theme for HMD and this year it is ‘For a Better Future’. It serves as a call to action, encouraging communities to learn about the past and take actions to make a better future for all.
In addition, many of the council’s libraries will also mark HMD with displays and activities, including:
- An ‘intergenerational display’ in Penrith Library featuring 80 candle templates to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The display includes messages from primary school children, care home residents, library users and staff on how we can create a better future.
- Displays in Barrow, Kendal and Windermere libraries.
Councillor Matt Severn, Chair of Westmorland and Furness Council, said:
“Holocaust Memorial Day is a solemn on-going reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust. Across Westmorland and Furness, we will be remembering the millions of victims; the 6 million Jews as well as many other groups in society, murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. We remember too all the survivors and families affected by the Holocaust. We also remember the victims of other terrible genocides around the world.
“We also praise the contribution made to our community by the Windermere Children, the Jewish children who came to the Lakes as refugees after the Second World War.
“It is essential for us to grieve, unite, reflect and learn about the past so that we can take action for a better future.”
For more information on Holocaust Memorial Day, visit the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website.